Safety bazok



Sept. 13, 1932.

`H. A. coY

SAFETY RAZOR BLADE SHARPENER Filed Feb.V a, 1932 l Patented Sept. 13, 1932 HARLEY A.. COY, F MASCOT, TENNESSEE SAFETY RAZOR BLADE SHARPENER Application filed February 3, 1932. Serial No. 590,744.

This invention relates to a stropping or honing device for safety razors, more particularly for safety razors of types now in general use.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a novel stropping or honing device for a safety razor which device is small, light, inexpensive and eiiicient.

Another object is to provide a novel stropping or honing device which can be assembled with safety razors of types now in use without interfering with the use of the razor for shaving and which can be used for sharpening the blade without removing either the device or the blade from the razor.

Another object is to provide a novel stropping or honing devi'ce for a safety razor which can be sold or marketed apart from the razor itself as a separate device or attachment to be applied to and used with razors of typesnow known and in general use.

Two embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but it is to be expressly understood that said drawing is for purposes of illustration only and is not t0 be construed as a definition. of the limits of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for this purpose.

In the drawing, Y Fig. l is a perspective view of a razor,

having attached thereto a sharpening device 'embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the razor taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

' Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the sharpening'device ready for use;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the razor taken on the line 11e-4; of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the sharpening device; and

4 Fig. 6 is a' perspective view of a device embodying the invention and adapted for use with a somewhat different type of razor. p

Referring now to the drawing, Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive illustrate a conventional razor of a type well known andin general use. This razor includes a top clamping member 1 having 'secured to its central portion 'a depending threaded stem 2 and a depending longitudi- 10, the corners of the nally extending bar 3. lIn this type of razor, i the bar 3 normally engages iny a slot et in a blade 5, and the stem 2 passes through la central opening in said blade and through a central opening in a guard or bottom clamping member 6 provided with serrated guards 7. The clamping members l and 6 and the blade 5 are secured together by threading the usual handle 8 onto the threaded stem 2 whereby the blade 5 is firmly clamped between said 60 clamping members, the bar 3 normally engaging in a slot 9 formed in the bottom clamping member 6. As shown in Fig. 4, the bar 3 and slot 9 do not extend the entire length of the clamping members l and 6. g5 Moreover, the top clamping member 1 is provided at its four corners with projecting lugs blade being cut out to receive these lugs. It will be understood however that the razor as thus far described is of conventional form and is shown for purposes of illustration only.

It is known that the edge of a blade in a razor of this type tends to be turned over away from the guard 7 and toward the top clamping member l when the razor is used and hence the blade should first be sharpened on the side adjacent the top clamping member 1. In conformity with the present invention, a stropping device is provided which can be assembled with the razor between the blade and the top clamping member and which isinvention which is adapted for use in a razor of the type described above. This device comprises a substantially rectangular frame indicated-generally at 11 and having its central portion cut out as shown at 12, the length of the cut out portion 12 being sufficient to receive the bar 3 and the width of the cut out x portion 12 being sufficient to permit lateral displacement of the stropping device of the desired extent. The frame ll can be molded from hard rubber, or stamped, molded or assembled from any suitable material or combination of materials such as metals, alloys and the like, provided only that the undersurfaces of the sides 13 of the frame provide suitable stropping or honing surfaces for the edges of the blade. It desired, the stropping or honing surfaces may be of different material from the remainder of the device and may be secured to the rectangular frame 11 in any suitable manner, but usually the entire device will be formed of a material which of itself provides the desired honing or stropping surfaces.

This device is shown assembled with a razor in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, being positioned between the blade 5 and the top clamping member 1. In Figs. 1 and 2, the razor is in condition for shaving and in this -position the upper surfaces of the sides 13 of the stropping device are engaged by the lugs 10 of the to clamping member to hold and flex the blade,

flexibility being provided if necessary at 14 in the end portions of the frame. As clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the bar 3 lits within the cut out portion 12 of the device, and according to the thickness of the device said bar may extend into the slot 4 in the blade or further into the slot 9 of the guard 6, although for reasons pointed out below the blade is securely held against turning regardless of the bar and slot.

The frame is provided at its ends with knobs 15 which as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 lie outside of the ends of the razor clamping members, and said knobs are provided with downwardly extending flanges 16 which engage the ends of the blade and also the ends of the guard member 6. 'Ihese flanges 16 provide guides which insure that the lateral movement of the stropping device shall take place. in a direction at right angles to the blade edge g moreover, the blade and clamping member are held against turning by the stem 2 and by the knobs 15 and their flanges 16, both during stropping and when the razor is in use for shaving.

WV hen it is desired to use the stropping device, the tension on the blade 5 is released by unscrewing the handle 8 until the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3. The blade 5 in returning to normal unllexed condition lifts the top clamping member 1, and may in some cases remove the bar 3 from engagement in the slots 4 and 9, depending on the extent of the bar and the thickness of the stropping device. However, in any event the blade is held against turning in the razor and against lateral movement by virtue of the threaded stem 2 and the flanges 16 as described above. 'Ihe knobs 15 are now, grasped between the fingers of one hand and the handle 8 is moved back and forth with the other hand, causing the razor together with the blade to reciprocate relative to the stropping device and the stropping surfaces to pass over the blade edges. For more thorough sharpening, the blade can be reversed in the frame and the operation repeated.

Fig. 6 shows another device embodying the Lamezia" invention which is adapted for use with a different type of razor. In this figure the stropping device comprises a curved plate 17 provided with a vplurality of transversely elongated openings 18. The top clamping member 19 (shown in dotted lines) is provided with three posts 20, the center post being threaded to receive the usual handle. It will be understood that this top clamping member is used with the usual blade and bottom clamping member each having three openings through which the posts 20 extend. 'Ihe device 17 is provided with knobs 21 having depending flanges 22 which engage the ends of the blade and of the bottom clamping member for guiding the stropping device. `With this type of razor, the blade is always held against turning and against lateral movement by the three posts 20 which pass through the holes formed in the blade. 'Ihe stropping device however, is capable of lateral movement since the posts 20 pass through the elongated openings 18. By loosening the handle, grasping the knobs V21 in the fingers of one hand, and lnoving the razor handle back and forth with the other hand, the same stropping action is obtained as described above in connection with Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive.

It will be. seen that devices embodying the invention may be manufactured and sold separately and apart from the complete razor and that they are designed as attachments to be used with razors of types now on the market and widely used. rIhe device is inexpensive, small and light in weight, and efficient in operation. Preferably the device is assembled with the razor as shown in the drawingl and is therefore always in position for sharpening and ready for use, although there is no interference with the normal operation of the razor. It vis only necessary to loosen the handle slightly in order to sharpen the blade and this can be accomplished without removing either the blade or the sharpener from' the razor.

While only two embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated in the drawing, it will be understood that the invention is capable of various other physical embodiments and that changes may bemade in the form, details 4of construction and arrangement of the parts without depart-ing from the spirit of the invention. Moreover, it will be understood that devices embodying the invention are not restricted to use with razors of the two types described above but may be adapted to other types as well. Reference is therefore to be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

IVhat is claimed is:

1. In a razor, a guard, a clamping member, a blade between said guard and clamping member, means for holding said member,

the blade,

blade and guard in assembled relation, and a sharpening device mounted between the blade and` clamping member for transverse movement relative to the blade and clamping member.

2. ln a razor, the combination of a guard, a vclamping member, a blade between said guard and clamping member, means for hold-` ing said clamping member, blade and guard in assembled relation, a sharpening device mounted between said blade and clamping member for transverse movement relative to and knobs on the ends vof said sharpening device and extending beyond the ends of the razor.

3. In a razor, the combination of a' guard,

ak clamping member, a blade between said guard and clamping member, means on said clamping member extending through said blade and engaging said guard for holding said clamping member, blade and guard in assembled relation, and a sharpeningy device mounted between said blade and clamping member, said sharpening device having a transversely elongated opening through which said means extends, whereby said sharpening device is capable of transverse movement relative to said blade.

4. A sharpening device lfor use with a razor of thetype comprising a guard, a clamping member, a blade and means extending from said clamping member through said blade and engaging said guard for holding the same in assembled relation, said device comprising between the blade and clamping member and having sharpening surfaces, said device having a transversely elongated opening of greater transverse extent than said means whereby the device is capable of transverse movement relative to the blade.

5. A sharpening device for use with a razor of the type comprising a guard, a clamping member, a blade and means extending from said clamping member through said blade and engaging said guard for holding the same in assembled relation, said device comprising a frame adapted to be mounted between the blade and clamping member and havingv sharpening surfaces, said device having a transversely elongated o ning of greater transverse extent than said meanswhereby the device is capable of transverse movement relative to the blade, the endsof said device being adapted to project beyond the ends of the razor and being provided with gripping knobs.

a clamping member, a blade between sai guard and clamping member, means-secured to said clamping member 'and extendin through said blade into engagement with sai guard forpreventing relative movement between the parts, a sharpening device mounted between the blade'and clamping member specification.

a frame adapted to be mounted l and having a transversely elongated opening through which said means extends, the ends of said sharpening device extending beyond the ends of the razor and bein provided with flanges engaging the ends o the blade and razor parts for guiding the transverse movement of the device.

7 A sharpening device for safety razors com rising a substantially rectangular member. aving sharpening surfaces adjacent its sides and having' a transversely elongated opening, said device being provided at its ends wlth gripping lmobs.

8. A sharpening device for safety razors comprising a substantially rectangular member having sharpening surfaces adjacent its sides and gripping knobs at its ends, the central portion of form a substantially rectangular opening therethrough. j

9. A sharpening device for safety razors comprising a substantially rectangular member. having sharpening surfaces adjacent its side-s and gripping knobs at its ends, said device bein provided with a plurality of transversely e ongated openings therethrough.

In testimony whereof I o HARLEY A. COY.

said device being removed to have signed this aoV V1115v y 6; In a (razor, the combination of a guard l I 'las 

